The long-time principal of Wallaceburg District Secondary School, Rob Lee is set to retire at the end of the school year.
Lee told the Sydenham Current he is looking forward to retirement, but is proud looking back at his career, especially what was accomplished is his last six years as the principal of WDSS.
“There has been a lot of people so by no means am I taking credit. Nothing we do, we do alone. Nothing we accomplish,” Lee said.
What he is most proud of
“I am very happy that I was here to serve in the capacity in the bringing in of the Grade 7 and 8’s. So we now have a 7-12 school. I am very happy I was able to participate in the major construction which would be the field, the soon to be rubberization of the track. The learning commons, formerly the library, the new weight room/aerobics room. Also we created a new audio visual system both in the cafeteria and the gym. I am very proud of our academic awards showcase that is right here front and center for kids to be recognized.”
Lee said he is happy to see the staff at WDSS embrace collaborative inquiry.
“That is where they work together and they decide what is an urgent need for a student learning,” he said.
“Then they test is with a hypothesis. They gather some data. Are they correct or is this just an impression. If they gather some data and it shows that the students need some help in whatever area that is, then they put together a plan to do something about that. It could be in their lessons, it could be in an approach, at the end of the day something to improve student learning. Then at the end, they go back and test it. Did it work?”
Lee added: “Our experience here in all of our curriculum areas have participated in collaborative inquiry, which I am very proud of them. To look at the future, look at new initiatives, look at how do we help kids and do something very, very concrete about it. So I am very proud of that.”
Lee said he is proud that WDSS was part of an IT project to bring in iPads to the school.
“The iPad project has allowed teachers to really start investigating new ways to use technology and engage student learning with the use of technology,” he said. “I am very happy that we were given that opportunity.”
The courtyard project from a couple of years ago is another accomplishment at the top of Lee’s list.
“A team of teachers came together, students got involved and if you remember what that looked like, it was awful,” he said.
“Building services pitched in when they saw the initiatives coming from the school and it’s a wonderful learning place now. We have recycled water, we have a foundation, we have art and we have a lot of learning that goes on there with plantings and keeping the gardens in it. It is right off the library so students can come from the new learning commons and go out to their internet cafe area. Very progressive, very beautiful and that of course led into being an Eco-school and winning the eco-school awards and being recognized by the Chamber of Commerce for the Environmental work done here.”
Lee added: “So those are some of the things that really stand out. I have just been so lucky to work with so many great people in the school and the community. That has been through my entire career. I am a very lucky man.”
Many thanks to give
Lee said there was a long list of people he wanted to thank as he enters retirement.
“I want to thank my wife and my kids,” he said.
“The Lambton-Kent District School Board, whenever I have come to them with an issue or a question, they will say ‘is it good for kids?’ and then they will make it happen. I am very lucky to work for an employer who looks first at ‘is this good for kids?’. I am thankful to the Board for investing in my professional development and allowed me to grow as a professional. I greatly appreciate all they have done with that as well.”
Lee added: “The places that I have served, the staff, the students, and communities have always been so supportive of their local schools and that means so much.”
Lee said throughout the years there have been many people that have influenced him.
“I had so many people that I have looked up to. To start naming them, it would be very difficult but I will tell you a few people encouraged me,” he said.
“I was always open to the next step, but I was always happy where I was as well. There were principals that I worked under that I watched and I thought ‘Wow, that’s really cool what they do and what they could do.’ Some of them that stand out for me is Ewan Wilson. He had a big influence on me. Warren Kennedy had a big influence on me. I worked with a lot of vice principals that had a real influence on me.”
Lee said Gayle Stucke, the former director of education for the LKDSB, had a big influence on him.
“I can remember going to her once before I went into the vice principal pool and I had a very frank conversation,” he said. “This is who I am, are you sure this is who you are looking for because I am cool wherever I am at. So she definitely did and I know I am going to be forgetting someone and I will be kicking myself because there are so many.”
“All the staff I have worked with in so many schools, it has just been so positive. We are lucky we have a profession where definitely you have to work so hard to get into this profession now that the people coming in are all here with a common goal and they have to work really hard and want to work with students and help them learn.”
Lee said learning has evolved into decision making, collaborative work, working with others, and understanding a bigger picture.
“Understanding the challenges can’t be faced alone and we often need even people who aren’t like us, like minded people to figure that out,” he said.
“I think it is a very exciting time in education. Sometimes I wish I was 30 years younger but I am very much looking forward to what is next for me.”
Plans for retirement
Lee, who is just about to turn 59, said he is still not 100% sure what lies ahead for him in retirement.
“I have kind of cleared my slate,” he said.
“A lot of volunteer things like Community Living who I was with for a long time. I passed the torch for the education person there this year to Ben Hazzard, who will be wonderful in that role. I have been advised by a lot of people, just step back a bit, get yourself centred again and than start thinking about what is next.”
“I will pick up a little slack at home. Do more fly fishing. I am healthy so the time is good.”
From game warden, to principal
Lee said his original plan was not to become a teacher or principal, but rather a game warden.
“I went to University with that in mind because they use to do a lot of research but also it was a different job,” he said.
“Half way through university they created Sir Sandford Fleming and created conservation officers, which were primarily enforcement so there I was. So I did complete my degree. I worked with a conversation authority. I operated a dam on the Grand River and a conservation park. Than when my wife got an internship to be a dietitian in Edmonton, I left. I found work there with the environmental education branch of Alberta Environment, just by serendipity.”
Lee said one of his projects there was working with students all over the province on environmental issues in Alberta.
“I love working with the students,” he said.
“It was great. So that is when I decided. Plus I love Ontario and the Great Lakes, so when I came back I thought, I could have stayed there in that career, but that’s when I went to Teacher’s College and became a science teacher and they placed me in a town called Wallaceburg.”
Lee added: “Elaine had a contract here for one year and so I did Teacher’s College, she finished here. Of course they extended her contract. I was hired at the end of the year. I was very lucky that they hadn’t hired for some time. I was in the right place at the right time. Than I taught here until about ’99. I became a VP here when someone was ill in Chatham. I filled in here, realized how much I could do in that roll. So when I was tapped to be a VP at CK, I was very happy to go.”
Lee said he was a VP at CK and then a VP at SCITS (Sarnia Collegiate Institute and Technical School.)
In Wallaceburg, after his role as a science teacher he moved to become the head of the guidance department.
“I think about 14 years I was here. The year I left, my kids started. Than I was a Tartan parent. I never did really leave because when I came back as principal, my daughter, my third child, was just finishing.”
“So I was VP at SCITS after CK, than I was Principal at Ridgetown high school, than I was Principal at Lambton-Kent Composite School in Dresden, and then had the opportunity to come back here full circle.”
Best wishes to the new administration
Lee said he wishes nothing but the best to the new administration at WDSS.
“It has been wonderful to work with the new administrators to the building this year,” he said.
“Ryan Meyers and Scott Watson. They will be here next year and that is great. Welcome to Murray Hunt who will be coming over next year.
Lee said he encourages Hunt, who is coming to Wallaceburg from LKCS in Dresden, to enjoy the role.
“Enjoy the kids, enjoy the community and enjoy all of the opportunities. It is a great place,” he said.
“My experience with all the schools have been wonderful but because my family went here and I have been part of this school for so long, this will always have a special spot in my heart, that’s for sure. Plaid to the bone.”
